Birding week

I've had a week of birds going for a range of species.

i started in Carlise for the Starling murmuration a truly breath taking experience with thousands flying above my head and sparrowhawks and buzzards darting in picking of the weaker ones.

Starling Video

Later in the week i herd of reports of Waxwings in Nottingham a species i have never seen. going along with fellow Nottingham bird photographer Rob Hoare we came across a flock of over 100!

filming and seeing these birds was a great experience especially so close to my home.

Robs blog is worth a look - Rob's Blog

My Website - My Website

Facebook Page - Facebook Page Page

Diary for the next few months

So thought I'd do a little time line of talks, trips and publications for the next few months

November - Licolnshire Wildlife Trust - Spined Loach Image
- University of Cumbria Talk - Rockpools & Rivers


December - Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Kids Magazine - Stickleback image
- Derby Telegraph - Interview about my work
- BBC Winterwatch - will be filming and appearing on the show


January - Cairngorms, Scotland - Photography trip
- Countryman Magazine - River article
- University College Falmouth Talk - Whats next?
- University of Nottingham Talk - Coastal Wildlife

February - Guided Photo walk in Nottinghamshire

March - Brook Lamprey shoots

April - National Geographic Project Starts Homepage

September - Beeston Wildlife Group - Talk on Cornish Wildlife Photography

November - Arctic Charr Shoot

Netting Pictures

Taking a more documentary style to the netting week i also decieded to turn a few monochorme

 Pulling the net across the lake

Fish getting closer together

Anglers Paradise Netting week 2012

So i returned to the South West last week to photograph the netting at Anglers paradise in Devon one of the premier angling sites in the UK

This short video shows the process of the netting on the Koi lake

i have a quick chat with the owner Zyg Gregorek in his wine cellar (powerful stuff his wine not for the faint hearted!)

and finallly a UK first (possibley world) with footage of the golden tench feeding in the Tench lake

i had a fantastic time staying on site and look forward to next year.


Don't forget to like My Facebook Photography Page

Kentish Newts

Thinking i wouldn't see any more herptiles this late in the year, i went to kent mainly for birds but was pleaslenty surprised by the amount of common lizards basking and newts in the wet grass.

i also happened upon my first ever great crested newt, underneath a carpet. Not as large as i thought it would of been but fantastic to see one.

as the days a getting colder the common lizards are making full use of any warm surface like these black tyres.

the great crested newts smaller cousin, the smooth newt was also present in the moss.

i didn't completely forget about the birds though as i shot this (very shaky sorry!) footage of a great white egret at RSPB Dungeness

Jacks Website

Hints -

- its illegal to handle great crested newts without a licence so i couldn't get any other angles when i found this one poking its head out. a fine of £5000 can be issued you are caught disturbing them! 

- october despite the cold weather closing in is a great month to photograph herps as they take longer to bask and are more sluggish allowing you to get closer for a shot!

- Be prepared! i didn't have a tripod with me when i saw the great white egret so my footage is shocking! but it shows a unusual species in the UK.

Isles of Scilly & Graduation

I returned to Cornwall this week to finally complete my BA Hons Marine & Natural History Photography degree. The graduation took most of the day but i couldn't stick around too much as i was traveling to the Isles of Scilly!

 Me (left) with fellow wildlife photographer Josh Jaggard (right)

After getting to the scillies i found a boat to go out on and find wildlife. Seabirds were very common with puffins, fulmars, gannets and cormorants all present on the island at certain times of year.

Grey seals are very common on the scillies, hauling up on rocks. Scilly lies 28 miles south of Penzance and a 15 minute plane ride.      

Bull seals are much larger than females and have little to fear in the surrounding waters. 

Hints -

- Boats can be a bit wobbly at the best of times so get a fast shutter speed to catch all the action.

- Take a a couple lens but a long lens is recommended. 

- The weather was dull and rainy so compensating on post production with contrast and vibrance is vital to bring the most of your work.

Peak District Trout & Grayling!

Living so close to the peak district i thought it was about time i got over there did some photography! having been assisting with the BBC all week filming coarse fish i thought i'd keep up the piscatorial antics but go for brown trout and grayling two fish i have long been after to photograph but as of today never had a chance.

at first they proved a little shy but..

once they got used to my presence they were more then happy to pose for me!

to top it of i also saw kingfisher, dipper and rainbow trout though the brown trout proved a little camera shy.


Video of todays fish below

Peak District fish filmed underwater



bug thanks to Rob Cuss who took me there to get the shots!

www.jackperksphotography.co.uk